Spring seat for sectional cap razors



Feb- 7, i967 c. o. scHRADr-:R 3,302,284

I SPRING SEAT FOR SECTIONAL CAP RAZORS I Filed April 14, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR @UWE/V65 SH/PADIA Feb. 7, i967 c. o. scHRADER lSPRING SEAT FOR SECTIONAL CAPRAZORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14,1965 INVENTOR CLARE/VC O. SCHAEE C? l *y C Bv jim@ www www! ,491% NWS.

United States Patent O 3 302 284 SPRING SEAT Fon sEcirroNAL CAP RAzoRsClarence O. Schrader, Sherman Oaks, Calif., assignor to Eversharp, Inc.,Milford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 14, 1965, Ser. No.448,018 1 Claim. (Cl. 30-60.5)

This invention Arelates to safety razors in general and morespecifically is directed to improved safety razor designs having a novelplatform spring forming a blade seat which co-operates with movable capsections to grip the razor blade adjacent the cutting edges. The uniquespring seat design permits unobstructed flow of the shaving productthrough elongated openings provided in a guard member disposed .belowthe same.

In its broadest sense, the adjustable razor of the present inventionincludes a tubular handle assembly having a platform-like guard me-mbersupported at the upper end. A spider assembly mounting the usualpivoting cap sections has the associated spider stem slidably receivedin the tubular handle. Suitable means of any known type may 4be providedto shi-ft the spider stem to open and close the cap sections in a wellknown manner. This means or if desired, an additional means, can beprovided to shift the stem to effect razor adjustment in a manner tobecome apparent.

The novel spring seat of the present invention is supported above theguard member and coacts with the cap sections to tension and grip therazor blade adjacent its marginal edges throughout all positions ofadjustment. In this manner, the blade is resiliently supported as closeas possible to the cutting edges and yet is supported in such a mannerthat the flow of the shaving product through the guard is unrestricted.

Through the novel spring seat design, each edge of the razor blade isgripped independently of the other and `any irregularities in the razorblade or cap sections can be readily compensated for. A greaterappreciation of the salient features of this invention can be had byconsideration of the objects and a detailed description of arepresentative embodiment ofthe invention.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and improvedsafety razor. v

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a new andimproved safety razor design having a novel platform spring meanslforming a bl-ade seat and being adapted for co-operation with a capmeans to hold a razor blade adjacent the cutting edge.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a new andimproved blade supporting resilient spring se-at which cio-operates withmovable cap sections to support a double edge razor blade adjacent thecutting edges.

Further and fu-ller objects will become readily apparent when referenceis made to the accompanying dr-awings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the razor of the present invention withthe cap sections closed and the .razor blade omitted;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the razor of FIG. 1 with the capsections open and the razor blade omitted to illustrate the platformspring in plan;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the razor o-f FIG. 1 with portionsof the handle broken away and having the razor blade inserted and theadjustment set on the reference l;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the adjustment set on thereference 9;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross section taken through the handleassembly;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective of the razor of FIG. 1;

ICC

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional View taken through the razor head andillustrating the handle and spider stem fragmentarily; and

FIG. 8 is an illustration of t-he developed cam sleeve.

In order to more aptly describe the salient features of the novel springseat of the present invention, the description will be given inconjunction with a novel adjusting means which per se does not form apart of this invention. It is not intended that this description belimiting inasmuch as the design feaures and advantages of the presentinvention are equally applicable for use with other types of adjustingmeans.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the adjustable razor of the present inventionis indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes thebasic elements as follows: a handle assembly 11; spider assembly 12,including the cap sections 13 and 14; and, an operating mechanism 15. Abetter appreciation and understanding of the components making up thebasic elements of the adjustable .razor may be had by consideration ofthe exploded perspective view of FIG. 6.

The spider assembly 12 includes the spider stem 16 attached to thespider 17 with spider arms 18 and 19 disposed at opposite ends. Thespider arms 18 and 19 pivotally support the cap sections 13 and 14 foropening and closing movement as the ends engage the `guard in a wellknown manner.

As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the handle assembly 11 includes a handle 20 ofgeneral-ly frustoconical exterior contour having a series of ribs 21uniformly spaced to provide an attractive design and enhance the easewith which the razor may be gripped. The handle 20 may be for-med of anysuitable material with plastic being preferred. At the lower end of thehandle 20 is provided a cylindrical section of reduce-d diameter 22having an axially extended key 23 formed integrally thereon for purposesto become apparent.

The handle assembly 11 lfurther includes a guard 27 and theplatform-type spring seat of the present invention indicated generallyat 28 mounted on the upper end of the handle 20. .The spring seat 28inclu-des blade engaging sections 29 and 30 disposed in substantialparallelism with the marginal edges of the cap sections 13 and 14 andthe guard 27.

As is best seen in FIG. 6, the adjustment assembly 15 is composed lofthree main elements including a cam sleeve 24, cam follower sleeve 25and adjusting knob 26. A spider biasing spring 31, washer nut 32 andtrim cap 33 complete the basi-c razor assembly. The manner in which thebasic parts are assembled and coact will be l described in greaterdetail below.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the spider stem 16 is positioned within thecylindrical bore 34 formed in the handle 20. A bore of reduced diameter35 is formed inthe lower section of the handle .and forms at thejunction with the enlarged cylindrical bore 34 a radially extendingshoulder 36. The spider stem 16 is also provi-ded with a radiallyextended shoulder 37 which axially faces the shoulder 36 in the bore.When the stem is slidably received in the handle, the spring 31 isbottomed on earch of the shoulders 36 and 37 thereby continuously tourge the spider stern 16 axially of the handle 20 in a direction to openthe cap sections 13 and 14.

A metal collar 38 is provide-d at the junction of the handle 20 andlguard 27 and is provided with an internal bore having a bearing areafor the spider stem 16. The frnetal collar 38 facilitates rigidattachment of the lguard 27. The spring seat 28 is attached to the guard27'by riveting or the equivalent.

The lower end of the spider stem 16 is threaded as at 39 to receive thewasher nut 32 which holds the adjusting -knob 26 on the stem 16 and alsoprovides control of movement of the spider stem 16 by operation of theknob 26. The cam follower sleeve 25 is press fitted or secured in anysuitable fashion within the knob 26. Spring 31 serves to urge the camfollower surface 40 (also shown in FIG. 6) in engagement with the camsurface indicated generally at 41 on the cam sleeve 24. Upon assembly ofthe razor the cam sleeve 24 is received about t-he handle section 22.Relative rotation between the cam sleeve 24 and handle 20 is preventedby the integral key 23 on the handle section 22 being received in asuitable lkey way 42 in the cam sleeve 24.

The cam surface 41 on the cam sleeve 24 contains diverse rises or anglesas may be best appreciated by referring to FIG. 8. In viewing from leftto right, camA 41 includes a stop shoulder 43 which serves to limit therotation of the cam follower sleeve 25 in one direction by engagementwith the follower 40. Adjacent the shoulder 43 the cam surface 41contains a gentle rise 44 defined by a series of step-like formations ornotches 45 each of which is increasing in elevation relative to theadjacent notch as it Iprogresses up the rise 44. After passing the lastnotch disposed in alignment with the reference numeral 9, the camsurface 41 contains a sharp rise as indicated at 46 which terminates ina flat bottom 47, limited on the opposite side by an axially extendingshoulder 48. The cam follower 40 conforms substantially to the shape ofthe flat bottom 47 and the sharp rise 46 of the cam surface 41 so thatwhen the follower 40 on the cam follower sleeve 25 engages the ilatbottom 47 the spring 31 extends the spider stem 16 to move the capsections to the open position as illustrated in FIG. 2.

When the cam follower 40 on the cam follower sleeve 25 is rotated forsliding up the rise 46 and reception in one of the notches 45, as forexample that positioned directly below the reference 9 in the cam sleeve24, the cap sections 14 and 15 assume the closed or blade clampingposition shown in FIG. 4. The knob 26 slides axially outwardly along thecam sleeve 24, the stem 16 moves downwardly in the handle and the spring31 is compressed, and the spring seat 28 is tensioned a slight amount.The blade engaging sections 29 and 30 engage the razor blade andresiliently hold the same against the cap sections 13 and 14. In thisposition maximum blade exposure or clearance with the guard 2'7 isavailable.

Rotation of the knob 26 to align the cam follower 40 with the notch inaxial ali-gnment with the reference numeral "1 on the cam sleeve 24causes the cap sections 13 and 14 to assume the minimum blade exposureposition shown in FIG. 3. When the knob is rotated to this position, theindependently movable blade engaging sections 29 and 30 of the platformspring seat 28 are moved downwardly relative to the guard. The outeredge of each of the blade engaging 4sections 29` and 30 engages therazor blade adjacent the marginal edge of the associated cap sectionthereby resiliently holding the blade adjacent the cutting edges.

In each of FIGS. 3 and 4, a marker index or indicating means 49 isprovided on the adjustment knob 26 to permit axial alignment with theassociated reference numeral on the cam sleeve 24. Incrementaladjustment intermediate either of the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4may be easily selected by rotating the adjusting lcnob 26 to bring theindicator 49 in axial alignment with the desired reference mark.

A better appreciation of the relationship of the platform spring seat28, `guard 27 and blade may be had by reference to the cross sectionalview of FIG. 7. A razor blade 50 of conventional double edge design ispositioned over the spider 17 and the cap sections 13 and 14 brought tothe closed position by rotation of the knob 26 so that the indicatingmeans 49 is aligned at any position on yor between references 1 or 9.The cap sections 13 `and 14 remain in the closed position through thedownwardly projecting arms at opposite ends being engaged with the usualvertical slots at the ends of the guard 27.

4 The cap sections 13 and 14 are pulled downwardly relative to the guardby the spider stem 16 actin-g through the spider assembly 17 against theforce of the spring 31. In this manner, the marginal edges of the capsections 13 and 14 exert clamping force on the marginal edges of therazor blade 50.

The platform spring seat 28 has the opposite longitudinal blade engagingsections 29 and 30 engaging the underside of the blade 50 at oppositemarginal edges slightly inwardly of the :outer edges of the associatedcap sections. As is best seen in FIG. 2, cutout areas 51 and 52 onopposite sides of the guard 27 are unobstructed. During the shavingprocess, the cutting edge blade 50 is continuously cleared of theshaving product by the same bein-g permitted to ow in an unrestrictedmanner through the openings 51 and 52 in the guard 27. The platformspring seat 28 co-operates with the cap -sections 13 and 14 to providesupport to the razor blade 50 resiliently holding it adjacent thecutting edges for maximum shaving comfort and safety. For ease inmanufacturing, the platform spring seat 28 may be secured to the guard27 by riveting, welding or the equivalent.

As seen in FIG. 7, each section 29 and 30 of the platform spring seat 28is curved downwardly along its outer marginal edges and is provided withtabs (only two shown at 53 and 54) extending downwardly through therespective openings 51 and 52. Each of the tabs 53 and 54 is curledinwardly towards the center of the guard 27 thus serving to limit theupward movement of each of the spring sections 29 and 30 when the razoris opened for blade changing as seen in FIG. 2.

The tabs 53 and 54 are dimensioned so as to insure that the properspring force will be exerted on the razor blade 50 at the angle of-greatest exposure as seen in FIG. 4 as well as the angle of minimumexposure as seen in FIG. 3 This can be better understood by describingthe necessary steps in initially preparing the razor for shaving.

A razor blade of the usual double edge type is placed on the platformspring seat 28 with the slotted center over the spider 17. The knob 26is rotated to move the cam follower 40 laway from the surface 47 downthe cam track or rise 46 to the selected notch-like formation 45 formedin the cam surface 44. Assume, for example, the greatest blade exposureis desired by the individual preparing to shave with the razor, then theadjustment will be set with the indicator 49 on the reference 9position. The cross sectional view of FIG. 7 illustrates the generalrelationship of the parts and the razor blade 50 at this setting. Eachof the blade engaging sections 29 and 30 has its respective tab 53 and54 depressed downwardly away from the underside of the guard 27. Theupward force available by each of the blade engaging sections 29 and 30is of sufficient magnitude to provide the necessary support for therazor blade 50. Each blade engaging section 29 and 30 is furtherdepressed toward the guard 27 as the adjusting knob 26 is moved fromposition "9 to position 1. Throughout the full range of adjustment, theclamping pressure exerted by each of the blade engaging sections 29 and30 is substantially consistent thereby to provide uniform blade supportand promote maximum shaving comfort. It is to be emphasized once againthat the support provided by each of the blade engaging sections 29 and30 is closely adjacent the cutting edge of the blade and yet inwardly ofthe respective openings 51 and 52 to permit unrestricted flow of theshaving product.

After a consideration of the foregoing description, it becomes evidentthat the 4total number of moving parts in the present razor design isminimized. The assembly of the platform spring to the guard may beeasily performed due to its simple design. The simplicity of the razorpromotes economy in manufacture and assembly of the razor. As a furtherfeature, the coaction of the parts is such that the usual wearexperienced in adjustable razors substantially unalects the normalfunctioning 0f the present design due to the built-in compensatingfeatures. Since the spring seat is of resilient material and disposedwithin the cap sections, it is protected against damage due toaccidental dropping of the razor or the like. Lack of uniformity ineither cap section 13 or 14 whether due t-o manufacture or accidentaldropping is readily compensated for by each of the individual sections29 and 30 being movable independently of the other. Such independentmovement also will compensate for any blade irregularities, misalignmentof razor parts Or the like.

Obviously, certain modications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scopethereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as areindicated by the appended claim.

I-claim: Y

A safety razor of the `adjustable type comprising a handle member, aguard mounted on said handle member, a spider assembly movable relativeto said guard and havin-g 1a spider stern extending into said handlemember, said spider -assembly including cap sections adapted to open andclose in response to full spider stern movement, said cap sections inthe closed position being spaced from said guard, spring seat meansmounted intermediate sai-d guard and said cap sections, said spring seatadapted to engage opposite edge portions of a razor blade and urge thesame against said cap sections thereby resiliently to hold said razorblade, means to vary the spacing between said cap sections and saidguard when said razor is in the closed condition, said spring seat beingoperative to maintain said razor blade in engagement with said capsections through variance of the spacing between said cap and guardsections, and spring means on said stem to urge it axially of saidhandle member, said spring means having sufficient operative movement tourge said cap sections to the open condition and means formed on saidspring seat to co-operate with said guard to limit the upward movementof said spring seat in order that the tension on said spring seat may beprovided throughout variance in said spacing between said cap sectionsand said guard.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,439,902 12/1922 Kohn 30-73 1,526,173 2/ 1925 Newman 30-73 2,312,503 3/1943 Testi30--72 2,325,794 8/ 1943 OMealey 30-71 '2,335,875 12/1943 Muros 30-722,393,366 1/1946 Hammond 3073 3,03 8,254 6/ 1962 Scheminger 30-60.53,209,454 10/1965 Nissen 30--60.5 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 211,679 11/1957 Australia.

541,751 6/1957 Canada.

774,749 9/ 1934 France.

l863,917 1/1953 Germany.

399,692 10/ 1933 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MYRON C. KRUSE, Examiner.

